Rosario Resort to host Second Annual festival of trees

The Moran Mansion at Rosario Resort & Spa will be lit up with spectacular Christmas trees during the month of December, decorated by ten local nonprofit organizations. Sponsored by the resort, the Festival of Trees is designed to be a fundraiser during this holiday season for participating organizations, including returning organizations from last year; Friends of Moran State Park, the Funhouse, Kaleidoscope, Orcas Island Choral Society, and Orcas Island Fire & Rescue, as well as newcomers Farm to Cafeteria, Orcas Island Children’s House, Orcas Animal Protection Society, Orcas Montessori School and Orcas Center.

“I love the Festival of Trees,” said Kara O’Toole, director of the Orcas Center, a new addition to the Festival this year. According to Dean Carey, a member of the Orcas Center creative team, their tree is a “showstopper,” but he “won’t give any more away."

The public will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite tree by purchasing a vote at $1 per ticket throughout the entire month of December. Each organization will receive the voting dollars, with the top three most voted trees winning additional cash prizes from Rosario Resort. All voter tickets will also be entered into a raffle to win prizes, including two roundtrip tickets from Orcas Island to Seattle on Kenmore Air with a two-night hotel stay, dinner for two at The Mansion Restaurant, and a two-month Rosario spa pass.

“We set the vote at $1 per ticket to make this fundraiser accessible to everyone, but we strongly encourage the public to embrace this season of giving and donate more if able,” said Jenole Peacock, the event organizer. “These are some very deserving organizations that do so much for our community every day.”

The Moran Mansion is open daily from 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at the front desk of Rosario before touring the tree display. To kick off the month-long fundraiser, a special open house will be held on Friday, Nov. 30 through Sunday, Dec. 2 with complimentary hot apple cider and cookies available.

 

 

 

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